HPV and cancer

Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are sexually transmitted viruses that are very common worldwide. There are more than 200 different HPV types, 80% of people will have HPV at some point in their lifetime and while for many it will cause no harm, some types of HPV are known to cause certain cancers such as cervical, anal and oral cancer.

Worldwide, cervical cancer is the fourth most frequent cancer in women; in Canada, cervical cancer accounts for 2% of all new cancer cases in women while the incidence of HPV-related oropharyngeal cancers increased by about 50% between 2000 and 2012.